Page 116 of Future Like This

“When we first met, I had sworn off love because I was afraid of getting hurt, and though she wouldn’t admit it at the time, Amelia had done the same. I asked if she believed in soul mates and she told me that any soul mate for her would want the same thing—one night only.” I rest my head against Amelia’s shoulder, unable to hide my laughter. “And I guess she was right. But so was I. Because I told her life usually has other plans that we don’t have control over. Maybe for a few minutes they both only wanted one night, but it was clear to all of us by the end of the night that they were destined for so much more. It fills my heart to watch my best girl so happy today. Living her best life.” Dani winks at her. “And Miles, I love you. I’ve known you for a long time, and I know you’re one of the good ones, but I think I speak for all of us when I say: hurt her and we hurt you.”

Because she has zero chill, my mother whistles at that statement. Of course.

“I don’t think we’ll ever have to worry about that, though. To Miles, Amelia, and Emmie—the beautiful family you’ve become—congratulations. We love you!”

People wildly clap and clink their glasses, and Amelia turns to me, one eyebrow arched.

“Gotta give the people what they want,” I say, then pull her lips to mine. I will never complain about kissing my wife.

The applause dies down, and we pull apart, looking back toward the front of the room, where a very pregnant Rae is standing, a microphone in her hand.

“Hey everyone. My name is Rae Cooper—formerly McKinley—and Miles Hyun-Hansen has been one of my best friends since I was six years old. I say ‘one of’ because there’s a whole group of us—or a cult, as Amelia likes to say.” Rae winks at her and Amelia laughs. “Of that group, I am the emotional one, so I’m not here to roast. I’m here to bring the tears.” She’s smiling brightly as she says it. “When I was three, I started collecting best friends. First there was Joel.”

“The OGs!” he yells.

“Then there was Mackenzie.” Mackie waves from where she’s sitting next to me. “Then there was Aaron.” She winks at him. “Then my sister, Sarah. Finally, we saw a little boy moving in across the street, and we decided there was room for one more friend. From that day on, it was the six of us. Ride or die. We have faced many things together.” Rae’s eyes fill with tears, and I’m not doing so well myself. When Rae talks about our friendship like this, it hits me right in the chest. “From late night yard games and laughing until I almost peed my pants to utter heartbreak, loss, and mental health struggles, the six of us have stood together, supporting each other, loving each other, saying the hard things, and then adopting more friends along the way.

“Through it all, I can say I wouldn’t be who I am without any of them. Miles has always been the dad of our friend group. He’s a caretaker by nature, and I don’t think anyone is more protective of us than him. When I found out he was going to be a dad, I wasn’t worried. I knew my partner in nannying crime would rock it. But when I realized he was falling in love, that gave me pause. Miles does not hand over his heart easily, but once he does, he never asks for it back. I’m pretty sure he gave it to Amelia the night they met. So, to Amelia, thank you. Thank you for seeing all the best things in him and loving him as deeply as he loves you. Thanks for jumping into the cult and opening your heart to us. When I told you we were never letting you go, it wasn’t because Miles loved you, it was because we could already see your love for him.

“To Miles and Amelia, two guarded hearts that will always protect the profound love between you and the beautiful family you’re building. I love you both. Happy wedding.”

Fuck. I stopped trying not to cry when Rae mentioned the heartbreak we’d gone through. When her eyes found mine as she spoke about my protectiveness. We’ve been through hell together, and I’m sure we’ll go through more, but I’ve never questioned my ability to get through the worst of it because I have them.

My gaze meets Amelia’s.

I have her.

This time, no clinking glasses are needed. She leans down and places a soft kiss on my lips.

If I’m about to be roasted by the guys, I don’t even care. It’s worth it getting to hear all that from Rae first.

I’m leaning against the bar, drinking one of my favorite hard ciders as I watch my friends dance to an upbeat country song. Hyla twirls Mackie around, and the joy in Mackie’s eyes is hard to miss. My gaze shifts, however, when a gorgeous girl in a white dress makes her way across the floor.

Not far from the bar, she stops, her gaze landing on me, and her eyes light up. She continues on, walking over to the bartender and ordering a hard seltzer. Once she has it in her hand, she comes to stand next to me.

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” I begin. “But are you crashing?”

She lifts a brow, smiling over the rim of her bottle. “Crashing? Like I have nothing better to do on a Saturday than marry some random guy?”

“Random guy, huh?” I make a show of looking around. “Where is this guy? Someone should make sure he’s good enough for you.”

“On second thought, I like you better. You’re much hotter.”

“Oh yeah?” I set my cider on the bar top and lean in. “Maybe you should take your sexy ass upstairs and prove it.”

A hint of a smile twitches on her lips. She sets her seltzer on the bar, running her hand down my arm as she does. “Five minutes. Don’t be late.”

Then she walks past me, directly to the stairs. I take a deep breath, then grab my cider, taking a long swig before following her.

Screw five minutes. I want her now.

Making my way upstairs, I head for the room with the closed door and knock lightly. It opens a crack, and I step inside. This must be the room where Mackie got ready because there’s a chair in front of a mirror with lots of hair products around it. It’s just a small sitting room, but I don’t need much space for this.

Amelia is leaning against the wall, one sleek leg on full display from that sinful slit.

Be still my aching cock.

“Mm, you’re early. I like a punctual man.”

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